David Peterson solid for Mets in defeat but wanted one pitch back

David Peterson might not want to admit he’s thinking about his possible audition — and competition — to remain in the Mets rotation.

But he knows it constantly hovers over him each time he takes the mound.

“It’s kind of always there,” Peterson told The Post. “To stay in the big leagues, you’ve got to produce and you’ve got to do your job. My goal every time I go out is to help the team win, and that’s my sole focus. Every guy in this locker room is pulling the rope in the same direction. That’s my focus, to go out there, when I get the ball, take it for as long as I have it and when I come out of the game, give my team the best chance to win that day.”

Peterson took a positive step forward in that regard Tuesday night, but left himself wanting one pitch back.

Peterson pitched 5 ²/₃ innings and surrendered two runs in the Mets’ 4-2 loss to the Padres at Citi Field.

Both Peterson and Tylor Megill are competing to win the fifth starting pitching spot in place of the injured Jose Quintana.

Justin Verlander previously said he plans to return from his own injury sometime in April, and once he’s healthy, he’ll seemingly replace either Peterson or Megill.

The early frontrunner is likely Megill, who has enjoyed a strong start to the season, owning a 2-0 record with a 1.64 ERA through his first two starts.

Peterson’s outing Tuesday followed an uneven start to his season. After a strong first appearance, in which he tossed five innings and surrendering just one run in a win over the Marlins on March 31, Peterson took a step backward in his second start.

He gave up five runs and walked five batters across four innings pitched in a loss to the Brewers on April 5.

Peterson had far better command Tuesday night, allowing him to keep the Padres’ dangerous lineup largely at bay.

After cruising through four innings, Peterson ran into his only trouble in the fifth, when he gave up a two-run double to Manny Machado.

Luis Campusano and Brandon Dixon had singled beforehand.

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Machado’s double came on a 2-2 slider from Peterson.

“I thought it was the right pitch for the right spot,” Peterson said. “I don’t think I got it to the spot that I wanted to. [Machado] gets paid the big bucks for a reason.”

He didn’t let it spiral him, though, and struck out Juan Soto for the third out to limit the damage.

Peterson recorded two outs to start the next inning, but was replaced by Denyi Reyes after he gave up a single to Ha-Seong Kim.

He threw 89 pitches.

“I thought [Peterson] was key to us being in that game,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He really pitched well, attacked, good to see him get after it tonight the way he can.”